Dir: Chu Kea
Orig Story: Gao Ming
Scr: Yeung Chit
Librettists: Lee Yuen-man, Poon Cheuk
Prod Co: Yulin
Cast: Fong Yim-fun, Law Kim-long, Tam Sin-hung, Siu Sun Kuen
1959 B&W D Beta Cantonese Chinese Lyrics 113 min

 

Adapted from Yuan Dynasty's The Story of the Lute, the film tells a story of a virtuous wife who searches for her husband and earns her living by playing her lute during the journey. Director used mostly medium and close-up shots, composed of two characters in waist or over-shoulder shot to closely capture their singing and expressions. Fong Yimfun's performance is genuine yet subtly restrained in multiple scenes of hardships endured by her role, in alignment with the smooth camerawork and not stepping into melodrama. This film rebukes the notion of camerawork in Cantonese opera films being monotonous, its long shots are rich in composition and in an even pace that adjusts the rhythm of the film, making it a masterpiece in style and precision by the prolific Cantonese opera films director Chu Kea.